Preview: Racing Club vs. Fortaleza - prediction, team news, lineups

Estadio Presidente Peron is set to host a six pointer in Group E when in-form Racing Club welcome Fortaleza on Thursday for the final gameweek of the Copa Libertadores' group stage.

Le Academia will be looking for their third consecutive victory in the competition, while Laion will be hoping to get their season back on track after three straight defeats.

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Match preview

Having won six of their last eight matches, drawing one and losing the other, Gustavo Costas's Racing are in excellent form across both domestic and continental competition.

In their most recent outing on May 15, Le Academia took all three points in a 4-0 Libertadores thrashing of Chilean club Colo Colo, courtesy of a first-half brace from Adrian Martinez and second-half strikes from Santiago Solari and Adrian Balboa.

With a third win under their belt in Group E, Costas's side qualified for the next round and tightened their grip on first place by hitting the 10-point mark, a tally that has them two clear of this week's opponents.

Aiming to end the group stage at the top of the pile, Thursday's hosts will draw confidence from the fact that they have won three of their last five at Estadio Presidente Peron, keeping clean sheets in each victory.

However, given that Racing have not played for a fortnight ahead of this clash, they could be rusty in comparison to their opponents, who have been maintaining their rhythm in the Brasileiro.

Meanwhile, Juan Pablo Vojvoda's Fortaleza have struggled in 2025, and having won just twice from their last 13 matches as well as losing three on the bounce ahead of their trip to Argentina, they will be looking over their shoulder on Group E's final gameweek.

On Monday, Laion followed up their penalty-shootout elimination from the Copa do Brasil with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Cruzeiro, who left them only one point above the relegation zone in the Brazilian top flight.

Contrastingly, Vojvoda's men are currently on a four-game unbeaten run in the Copa Libertadores, and their record of two wins, two draws and one loss has them well-positioned in second place.

That being said, this week's visitors sit just two points ahead of Atletico Bucaramanga, and they may need to avoid defeat in order to progress, though with just two defeats to go with their six draws and one win from their last nine on the road, fans will be quietly optimistic.

Should Fortaleza earn their third victory of the group stage, they would end this phase in first place, but one point should be enough to seal second thanks to their seven-superior goal difference over Leopardos.

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Team News

Racing boss Costas has a mostly fit squad to choose from, though there are doubts about the fitness of forward Maximiliano Salas.

If he is unavailable, expect to see Ramiro Degregorio and Santiago Solari start behind striker Adrian Martinez - whose double helped to secure three points last time out - in the frontline.

Le Academia also have concerns about left-sided defender Augustin Garcia Basso and midfielder Bruno Zuculini, and the duo are unlikely to feature on Thursday.

As for Fortaleza, midfielder Lucas Sasha has missed his team's last two games, and his participation in Group E's final matchday is in doubt.

Should he fail to make the squad, Vojvoda is likely to turn to a trio of Pol Fernandez, Ze Welison and Emmanuel Martinez in the centre of the park.

Elsewhere, Pedro Augusto was sent off after being substituted on against Cruzeiro in the Brasileiro, though he could still feature in midweek's Libertadores clash.

Racing Club possible starting lineup: Arias; Di Cesare, Sosa, Colombo; Martirena, Nardoni, Sanchez, Rojas; Solari, Degregorio; Martinez

Fortaleza possible starting lineup: Ricardo; Tinga, Kuscevic, Mancha, Barbosa; Ze Welison, Fernandez, Martinez; Pikachu, Lucero, Lopes

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We say: Racing Club 2-0 Fortaleza

Racing have been in fine form ahead of this week's clash, and they will be expecting to progress at the top of Group E.

In contrast, Fortaleza have endured a tough 2025, and with three straight losses prior to Thursday's trip, they may have to hope their rivals drop points elsewhere in order to make the next round.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.